Ireland Confirmed As State's Chief Justice

Senior Associate Justice Roderick Ireland remarked on his nomination to serve as the Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Court. (Governor’s Office)

Rodrick L. Ireland, previously the court's senior associate justice, was unanimously confirmed for the position by the Governor's Council early Wednesday afternoon. He will be the first African-American to hold the position.

Ireland replaces outgoing Chief Justice Margaret Marshall, who resigned from the position earlier on Wednesday.

Ireland grew up in Springfield and attended Columbia University. He spent 13 years on the Boston Juvenile Court before moving to the State Appeals court. Ireland was appointed to the high court in 1997 by then-Gov. William Weld.